Apparatus for feeding metal sheets



Nov. 22, 1938.. L. LEE 2,137,453

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING METAL SHEETS Filed Julyzg, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 '2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1937 INVENTOR. Leif Lee VA TRNEK Patented Nov. 22, 1938 APPARATUS FOR PATENT N OFFICE FEEDING METAL snEE'rs Leif Lee, Youngstown, Ohio; Halfdan Lee,` executor of the estate of said Leif Lee, deceased Application July 29, 1937, Serial No. 156,365

` claims.

This invention relates to `apparatus for feeding metallic sheets and more particularly to a device for handling the sheets preparatory to their transfer into a scrubber or other processing machine. The invention is an improvement on the device disclosed and claimed in applicants prior U. S. Patent No. 152409,012, issued March 7', 1922.

The fundamental concept underlying the invention forming the subject matter of the patent and embodied in the device specifically disclosed herein is theiprovision of two adjacent compartments for holding the sheets, one of which is in loading position when the other is in a position adjacent the feed rolls or other feed means of the galvanizing, scrubbing, or other processing machine, whereby the device may be loaded and sheets fed to the processing machine at the same time without interference between the operations or the operators. The compartments are connected together and are readily `movable as` a unit to an interchanged position so that as the feeding compartment becomes empty the other compartment, being filled, may be quickly moved to the position adjacent the inlet side of the processing machine to enable a substantially uninterrupted flow of material to enter the machine. Inasmuch as the operatorwho removes thesheets from the `filled compartment and actually feeds them `into the machine Valways removes them 30 from the same relative position, he acquires great skill in the handlingof the sheets witha consequent increase in efficiency and safety.

To enable the two compartments to be moved to interchanged positions, they arelconnected to- 3 gether `and mounted side by side on a turntabla the vertical axis of which coincides with the'cen ter of gravity of the movable assembly. The compartments being preferably rectangular and the end of one compartment `being always adja-f i centvthe processing machine, only one operator may conveniently be employed to transfer the` sheetsl from the feeding compartment to the ma chine.f He stands adjacent the outer side of the feeding compartment.

i The ability of a` single operator to handle a sheet from one side thereof is determined by the width of the sheet and since in the device of the patent but oneoperator can be employed to feed the sheets, the device is not satisfactory for the 55 a portion of the'inner side of each compartment may project beyond the adjacent end of the other compartment a distance sufficient to enable an operator to stand and work in the recess thus provided-` Two operators are thus enabled to be employed for the purpose of removing the wide sheets from the compartment, one in the recess and theother adjacent the outer side of the compartment.

Accordingly,`the primary object of my invention'is to provide asheet feeding apparatus which is simple in construction, rugged and compact, and which will enable sheets of relatively large width to be handled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus of the interchangeable compartment type which will enable two operators to be employed to remove the sheets from a compartment, the operators being positioned on either side of the sheets being fed.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for rotatably supporting a sheet feeding device of the interchangeable compartment type.

rThese and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the following detailed specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a sheet feeding device constructed in accordance with the principles of myinvention. The device is shown in combination with a sheet scrubber of convenient design;

Figure 2is a partial vertical section taken along the `line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The sheet feeding device ofimy invention consists essentially of a pair of identical, longitudinally offset tanks A Vand B, rotatably `supported for movementabout a vertical axis passing subn stantially through the center of gravity of the assembly. As shown in Figure 1, the device is so positioned relative to the machine which will receive the sheets that one of the tanks is axially aligned with the path of travel of the sheets through the machine.

For illustration purposes, I have shown the invention as applied to a sheet scrubber having suitable frame members 50 with overhanging extensions 5I, feed rolls 53, scrubbing rolls Sil, coupling spindles'5'l-58, a gear box 60 and a driving motor @Il As shown in Figure 2, the scrubbing machine is supported on a suitable concrete foundation I1 and the frame portions 5| extend above the upper surfaces of the tanks so that portions of the tanks may pass under` the extended portions of the frame as the tanks are rotated. This enables the feed rolls 53 to be positioned very close to the tanks thus reducing the manual handling of the sheets.

The feeding device is supported on an annular concrete base I 0 positioned below the concrete floor II, drains I4 and I5 serving to carry off any Water and acid solution that may seep into the space I2 within the base I0 and the annular space I3 about the base. A sewer I6 receives the liquids from the drains I4 and I5 and also from the sump I8 beneath the scrubber, the conduit I9 connecting the sump with a sewer.

suitably anchored to the base I 0 is the an-v nular ring 20, generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a circular beveled race 2| upon which travel the conical rollers 25 supporting the tanks. Rollers 25 are rotatably carried by the pins 24 which are secured in the depending lugs 23 of another annular ring 22 which ring is generally inverted U-shaped in cross-section. The depending flanges of the ring 22 overlap the upstanding flanges of the ring 20'to guide the rotation of the upperr ring.

A structural frame of the steel sections 28 is provided forV the support of the tanks, the frame being secured to and supported by the upper ring 22. Inasmuch as the sheets may be transferred directly from the pickling equipment to the tanks A and B, it is advisable to either construct the tanks of wood or to line them with some acid resisting material such as rubber or lead. The tanks A and B are identical and each consists of a bottom wall 39, an outer side wall 32 and end walls 33 and 35. A common wall 3| and the extending walls 31 form the inner walls of the respective tanks. As shown in Figure 1, the end wall 33 of tank A is offset toward the center of the assembly from the adjacent end wall 35 of tank B. Likewise the end Wall 33 of tank B is offset inwardly from the adjacent end Wall 35 of tank A. Thus in either of the alternate positions of the tanks, a space bounded, in part, by either wall 33 and either wall 31 and adjacent tothe left side of the feeding rolls 53 is provided to enable an operator to closely approach the left edge of the sheet as he assists the other operator standing adjacent the outer side wall 32 in the feeding of the sheets.

A suitable means 40 operated by the hand wheel' 4I or byV anv electric motor (not shown) may be employed to lift the front end of the sheets in the feeding tank so that they may easily be grasped by the operators for movement to the feed rolls 53. If desired suitable latch means may be provided to secure the turntable in either of its alternate positions.

In operation, with the parts in the position shown in Figure l, the sheets would be fedout of tank B into Vthe scrubber by the two operators positioned as described above. At the same time, the tank A would be filled with sheets from the pickling equipment or other source and when the tank B is emptied, the tanks would be rotated to move the lled tank A adjacent the feeding rolls 53. Since the arrangement of the tanks enables an operator to be positioned on either side of the sheets in the feeding tank, the tanks may be made in any ydesired width to accommodate the desired width of sheets.

The apparatus herein specificially disclosed should be considered as illustrative only, as obviously many changes may be made in the construction thereof Without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. Also the feeding device may have many other applications than those illustrated and specifically mentioned.

What I claim is:

1. A sheet transfer device comprising two adjacent mechanically connected compartments for the support of a plurality of sheets, the arrangement being such that one of said compartments may be loaded While the other of said compartments is being emptied, the forward end of each of said compartments projecting outwardly beyond the other of said compartments, and means for moving said compartments to interchanged positions.

2. A sheet transfer device comprising two adjacent mechanically eonnected compartments for the support of a plurality of sheets, the forward end of each compartment projecting outwardly beyond the other of said compartments, the arrangement being such that one of Said compartments may be loaded while the otherof said compartments is being emptied, a single rotary support for supporting said compartments intermediate their ends whereby said compartmentsV may be moved to interchanged positions.

3. A sheet transfer device comprising two compartments arranged side by side and mechanically interconnected, each compartment adapted to receive and support a plurality of sheets, the compartments being offset in relation to each other whereby the outer end of each of the compartments projects outwardly beyond the other of said compartments, and means supporting said compartments whereby said compartments may be moved to interchanged positions.

4. A sheet transfer device comprising a pair of adjacent parallel mechanically connected supports, each support adapted to hold a plurality of sheets, the supports being longitudinally off- -set in relation to each other whereby the outer end of each of said supports projects outwardly beyond the other of said supports, and means to move said supports to interchanged position.

5. In combination with a machinefor processing metal sheets, a sheet transfer device comprising a pair of adjacent parallel longitudinally offset supports, the device being so positioned in relation to said machine that one of said supports is axially aligned with the path of travel of the sheets through the machine, each of said supports adapted to hold a plurality of sheets, and means to move said supports to interchanged position.

6. In combination with a metal sheet processing machine having a frame with an overhanging portion and a pair of feed rolls journalled in said portion, a sheet transfer device comprising a pair of adjacent parallel longitudinally offset tanks so positioned in relation to said machine that the projecting end of each of said tanks is parallel with and adjacent to said feed rolls, means rotatably supporting said tanks for rotation about the center of gravity of said tanks whereby said tanks may be moved to interchanged positions, the arrangement being such that portions'of the projecting end of the tank adjacent the feed rolls pass beneath the overhanging portion of the said frame.

7. In combination with a machine for processing metal sheets, a sheet transfer device comprising a pair of adjacent parallel mechanically connected tanks so positioned in relation to said machine that one of said tanks is axially aligned with the path of travel of the sheets through the machine, one of said tanks being adapted to be loaded with sheets while the other of said tanks is being emptied into said machine, said tanks being longitudinally offset in relation to each other whereby the outer end of each of said tanks projects beyond the other of said tanks, and means supporting said tanks whereby said tanks may be moved to interchanged positions.

8. A sheet transfer device comprising a pair oi' adjacent parallel mechanically connected tanks, one of said tanks being adapted to be loaded with sheets while sheets are being fed from the other of said tanks, the tanks being longitudinally oset in relation to each other whereby the cuter end. of each of said 'tanks projects beyond the other of said tanks, and means to move the tanks to interchanged position,

9.' A sheet transfer device comprising a pair of adjacent parallel mechanically connected tanks, the tanks being longitudinally offset in relation to each other whereby the outer end of each of said tanks projects beyond the other of said tanks, and means supporting said tanks for rotation about their combined center of gravity comprising .a fixed annular bearing race, a ring supporting said tanks, and radially journaled rollers dependently carried by said ring adapted to roll on said race.

l0. A sheet transfer device comprising a pair of adjacent parallel longitudinally offset mechanically connected tanks for the support of two stacks of metal sheets, means to rotate said tanks about their combined center of gravity comprising a xed annular member, generally U-shaped in cross-section and having an annular bearing race concentrically disposed within the upstanding flanges thereof, a second annular member supporting said tanks and having a pair of concentric depending anges tting within and outside of the inner and outer flanges of the fixed annular member, and circumferentially spaced downwardly depending lugs on said second annular member carrying radially journaled rollers adapted to roll on, said bearing race.

LEIF LEE. 

